Wagon-scale



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

s. A. MILLER.

WAGON SCALE.

No. 592,809. Patented Nov. 2, 1897.

. Inventzarr fizzaeWZZler ymfltmomeys.

(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

S. A.. MILLER.

WAGON SCALE.

No. 592,809. Patented Nov. 2, 1897.

Witnesses WEI/'15 Runaways @WM M UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

SAMUEL A. MILLER, OF GARDNER, KANSAS.

WAGON-SCALE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,809, dated November2, 1897.

Application filed October 8, 1896. Serial No. 608,292. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, SAMUEL A. MILLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Gardnor, in the county of Johnson and State of Kansas, haveinvented a new and useful lVagonScale, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to weighing-scales designed especially for useupon wagons and similar vehicles, the same being adapted to enable theexact weight of the load on the wagon to be ascertained at any point andat any time without driving the wagon upon the ordinary platform scales.The improved scales are applied to the wagon truck and body in suchmanner that they can be thrown into and out of engagement with thewagonbody, so that when not in use the wagon body or box will restentirely upon the bolsters, thus relieving the Weighing apparatus fromall weight, strain, and wear.

The invention consists in certain novel features and details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described,illustrated in the drawings, and embodied in the claims hereto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section showingthe improved scales applied to a wagon. Fig. 2 is a front end view ofthe same, showing the scale-beam. Fig. 3 is a plan view of thewagon-truck with the wagon-box removed and shown in'dotted lines, alsoshowing the weighing apparatus. Fig. at is an enlarged detail verticalsection through the rear bolster, &c. Fig. 5 is a detail perspectiveview of one of the weighinglevers. Fig. 6 is a similar view of one ofthe fulcrum-plates. Fig. 7 is a similar view of a modified form offulcrum-plate.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in theseveral figures of the drawings. The improved weighing apparatuscontemplated in the present invention is shown as applied to an ordinarywagon, 1 designating the wagon body or box; 2, the front bolster; 3, therear bolster; 4:, the axles 5, the reach, and 6 the hounds.

In carrying out the present invention fulcrum-plates 7 are secured tothe top edges of the bolsters, and these plates are preferablyconstructed as shown in Fig. 6, extending the greater part of the lengthof the bolsters and provided along their longitudinal edges withdepending flanges 8, which embrace the sides of the bolsters andmaintain the fulcrumplates firmly thereon. Each of said platesisprovided, preferably near one edge, with an upwardly-projectingknife-edge 9, forming the fulcrum-point.

If desired, the fulcrum-plate 7 may be formed as shown in Fig. 7, whereit is shown to consist simply of a flat plate having one of itslongitudinal edges upturned and sharpened to form a knife-edge.

Fulcrumed upon each plate 7 is an anglelever the vertical arm 10 ofwhich normally hangs pendent and the horizontal arm 11 of which isextended an equal distance laterally on each side of the vertical arm toprovide an elongated bearing-surface for the wagon-body extendingentirely across it. The horizontal arm 11 of the lever is provided onits under side with a V-shaped groove 12 to receive the knife-edge 9,and on its upper side the extremity of said armis upturned to form abearing edge 13, which rests under the bottom of the wagon-body andbears against a wear-- plate 14, extending transversely of the bottom ofthe wagon-body, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The horizontal arm'll of eachlever is provided at each end and on its upper side with longitudinalrecesses 15, into which fit loosely the inturned ends of L-shapedkeepers or fingers 16, which are driven into the upper sides of thebolsters, as shown in the plan View, said keepers or fingers-preventingthe displacement of the levers when relieved from the load of the wagon.

17 designates auxiliary or false bolsters resting on the fulcrum-plates7 at one side of the knife-edge 9 and adapted to support the wagon-bodywhen the scales are not in opera tion, thus relieving the scales fromstrain and wear while the wagon is in transit.

18 designates a longitudinally-extensible connecting-rod which isinterposed between and pivotally connected to the pendent arms 10 of thelevers. The rod 18 is preferably made in two sections, one section beingplain and adapted to slide through an eye or loop 19 at the end of theother section and tobe held fixed by means of a bindin -screw 20, thusproviding for the accurate adjustment of the levers. The connecting-rod18 is provided at its forward end with a rigidly-attached ring orannulus 21, which extends under the front bolster and surrounds thekingbolt.

To the under side of the wagon-body at the front edge is secured abracket 22, and upon said bracket is fulcrumed an elbow-lever 23, thependent arm of which is connected by a link 2st with the ring 21. A redor bar 25 connects pivotally at its lower end with the other arm of theelbow-lever 23 and extends upward, being provided at its upper end witha bend or hook 26, which is adapted to enter an opening 27 in ascale-beam 28, mounted on a fulcrum 29 on the front of the wagon-body,as shown in Fig. 2. The scale-beam is graduated and equipped with theusual weights 30 and 31, the latter being slidably mounted thereon andforming the indicator. Attached to the front of the wagon-body is aplate 32, having an opening for the upper hooked end of the rod 25 whenthe scales are not in use.

\Vhen the weighing apparatus is not being used, the parts thereof assumethe position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the rod or bar 25 beingengaged in the opening in the plate or keeper 32 and the Wagon-bodyresting on the auxiliary bolsters 17. When it is desired to ascertainthe weight of the load, the hooked upper end of the rod or bar 25 isengaged in the opening 27in the scale-beam, which causes a sufficientvibration of the angle-levers to lift the wagon-body clear of thebolsters 17. By now shifting the sliding weight 31 the weight of theload may be arrived at.

The bolsters are provided with the usual spaced standards Set, betweenwhich the body 1 of the wagon is confined, and the wagon-body isprovided on each side exteriorly with antifriction-rollers 35, journaledon longitudinal axes and bearing against the inner surfaces of saidstandards, and other rollers 36, journaled on transverse axes, so

' as to bear against the front and rear sides of said standards. Theserollers relieve friction between the wagon-body and standards as theformer moves up and down under the influence of the load while supportedupon the levers of the weighing apparatus above described.

The weighing apparatus above described is simple and compact inconstruction, is for the greater part out of the way and not liable toinjury, and will be found of great convenience and utility. The severalpivots may be formed with knife-edges, and clevises or links used at thejoints in order to reduce friction.

It will be understood that the several parts of the apparatus aresusceptible of changes in the form, proportion, and minor details ofconstruction which may accordingly be re sorted to without departingfrom the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In aweighing apparatus for wagons, &c., an an gle-leverfulcru1ned on thefront bolster, its horizontal arm extending transversely entirely acrossthe wagon-body to support the front end thereof, a second and similarlever fulerumed on the rear bolster to support the rear end of thewagolrbody, a horizontallydisposed rod connecting the vertical arms ofsaid levers for simultaneously moving them, a scale-beam fulcrumed onthe end of the wagon-body, an elbow-lever pivoted on the end of thewagon-body and connected at one end to the said rod, and a rod connectedat one end to the other end of the elbow'lever and detachably connectedat its other end to the scale-beam, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a wagon truck and body, of fulcrum-platessecured to the tops of the bolsters and having upwardly-projectingknife-edges, auxiliary bolsters supported on said plates at one side ofthe knife-edges, angle-levers fulcrumed on the knife-edges, thehorizontal arms of said levers extending entirely across and beingarranged to support the wagon-body clear of said auxiliary bolsters orto allow it to be lowered so as to rest directly thereon, a rodconnecting the vertical arms of said levers, a scale-beam fulcrumed onthe wagon-body, and devices to detachably connect said rod with thescalebeain, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination with a wagon truck and body, of fulcrum-platessecured to the top of the bolsters and having upwardly-proj ectin gknife-edges, auxiliary bolsters supported on said plates at one side ofthe knife-edges,

angle-levers fulcrumed on the knife-edges,

the horizontal arms of said levers extending entirely across and beingarranged to support the wagon-body clear of said auxiliary bolsters orto allowit to be lowered so as to rest directly thereon, each of saidhorizontal arms having a recess in its bottom face to tit over theknife-edge of its support, and also recesses at its ends above thebottom recess, keepers secured to the bolsters and adapted to looselyengage in said end recesses to prevent the accidental displacement ofthe lovers, a rod connecting the vertical arms of said. levers, ascale-beam fulcrumed on the wagon-body, and connections between saidbeam and rod, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The combination with a wagon tr uek and body, of levers fulcrumed onthe front and rear bolsters and adapted to support the wagon-body, aconnecting-rod interposed be tween said levers, a ring or annulusattached to said rod and extending around the kingbolt, a scale-beamfulcrumed on the wagonbody at its front end, and connections betweensaid beam and ring, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a wagon truck and body, of levers fulcrumed onthe front and rear bolsters, a connecting-rod interposed between saidlevers, a ring or annulus attached to said rod and surrounding theking-bolt, an elbow-lever fulcrumed at the front end of the Wagon-bodyand having a link connection With said ring, a scale-beam on the frontend of the Wagon-body, and a rod or bar interposed between saidelboW-lever and the scalebeam, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a wagon truck and body, of levers fulcrnmed onthe front and rear bolsters and adapted to support the wagon-body, aconnecting-rod interposed between said levers, a ring or annulusattached to said rod and surrounding the king-bolt, anelbow-leverfulcrumed on the front end of the wagon-body, a linkconhecting said ring and elbow-lever, a scale-beam fulcrumed on thefront end of the Wagon-body and provided With an opening, a rod or barinterposed between said elboW-lever and beam and having a bent or hookedend for engaging the opening in the beam, and a plate secured to thefront end of the Wagon-body and provided With an opening for the hookedend of said rod or bar When the latter is disconnected from thescale-beam, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

SAMUEL A. MILLER.

Witnesses: I

INGA. R. PAUL, A. F. EVANS.

